Volume 1

The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes].

  • Du Halde, J.-B. (Jean-Baptiste), 1674-1743.
Date:
1741
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The general history of China. Containing a geographical, historical, chronological, political and physical description of the empire of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet. Including an exact and particular account of their customs, manners, ceremonies, religion, arts and sciences ... / Done from the French of P. Duhalde ... [by R. Brookes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    This Prince had the Weaknefs to give ear to Im- poftors, who promis’d him an Elixir which fhould render him immortal ; one Day one of thefe Chy- mifts brought him a Cup full of this immortal Liquor, and defired him to drink it for an Experi¬ ment ; one of his Minifters, who was advifmg him not to hearken to fuch Cheats, took the Cup and drank ithimfelf-, the Emperor being very angry that his Minifter had deprived him of Immortality, refolved to punifti him with Death for it ; to which the Mi¬ nifter reply’d with a Smile, If this Drink, Sir, hath made me immortal, how can you fut me to Death ? But if you can put me to Deaths how doth this frivolous Theft deferve it ? This Anfwer foften’d the Emperor, who praifed the Wifdom of his Minifter, but was not thoroughly cured of that Weaknefs. Vou ti won four great Victories over the Tartars, and, after having drove them far beyond the Great Wall, he march’d with his victorious Army into the Kingdoms of Pegu> Siam, Cambaia, and Bengal. He divided the vanquifhed Countries between the two Generals, and other Officers who had conquer’d them ; he built feveral Cities, and honour’d the two Generals with the Titles of King : Thefe Chinefe foon learned the Manners and Inclinations of the Tartars, and prov’d, in time, to be the greateft Enemies to thofe from whom they were originally defcended. One of thefe Kings of the Tartars dreading the Refentment of the Emperor, fent him his eldeft Son to be educated at his Court, who being very skilful in Horfes, the Emperor made him his Mafter of the Horfe, and afterwards put him at the Head of his Army, and honour’d him with the Title of Kin. Cycle 38- When Vou ti drew near his End he declared the Year be- Son of one of his Concubines Succeflor, whom he fureChriii, ]ovecj better than any of his Children : This young Prince was but eight Years of Age, but he appoint¬ ed